ISRRT_COVID-19_book

to help my colleague, Dr Rob Higgins at the University of Salford, translate RiTe for year 2
students into a suitable online format. My proposal was to direct student learning, and the
assignment, onto mobile chest x-ray in the context of imaging COVID-19 patients and those
suspected of having it. At that time, I knew CT had a role in diagnosing and managing COVID-
19, but there was no literature to the best of my knowledge at that time on plain chest x-ray
for assessing COVID-19. I knew I was out on a limb with my suggestion but had some
confidence that this imaging method would be used extensively in the coming months. Rob
and I moved forwards and developed the learning materials to support online delivery, this
involved adapting the assessment method to include online presentations by the students.
The process of translating to online had to be done quickly, as the students would start the
module later in April.
Saturday 4 th April 2020 – ‘a frantic day’
By 9.00am I had talked through my proposal about a website with Dianne. I explained to her
that I was out on a limb – I had no proof that chest x-ray would be used extensively for COVID-
19 diagnosis and management. I knew my professional reputation would be on the line if I
was wrong, and worse, if I was wrong then radiographers across the world might use the
website to guide practice even though chest x-ray might not have value. I was extremely
concerned about this, so I sought reassurance from an expert - Dr Nick Woznitza.
At 10.00am I had a phone call with Nick. Nick was a consultant radiographer in London, and
he makes diagnoses and writes reports from radiographic images; furthermore, Nick had a
formal role in helping one of London’s foremost COVID-19 hospitals (Excel) set up its radiology
service. Consequently, I trusted his professional judgement. During the phone call, Nick
reassured me that I was correct in thinking that chest radiographs do have a role, even though
nothing appeared to be documented in the literature at that moment in time. Nick also
confirmed almost nothing existed free of charge in the public domain to help radiographers
and radiologists take and interpret chest radiographs with COVID-19 in mind. For the rest of
the day, I set wheels in motion to contrive a situation which would result in the website being
created.
Next, I emailed my line manager Professor Margaret Rowe, Dean of the School of Health and
Society at the University of Salford. I asked her permission to lead the creation of the website
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